General Pershing uttered a great truth at the reception tendered him at
Washington on his return to the United States, When he said: "War is a science, and
to be successfully waged it must be conducted with mathematical precision."

Strict discipline is necessary to an orderly and successful military
organization. Many failures on the battlefield can be traced to a spirit of
insubordination and light consideration of military discipline. Some of the greatest
disasters which came to the forces engaged in the Texas revolution can be traced to a
spirit of indifference to the judgment of the chief military command. In all great
undertakings there must be a directing head, and all agencies must be subordinate to it,
if success is to be achieved. When a subordinate fails to recognize the judgment of his
superior, confusion invariably follows. The disaster which came to the Johnson-Grant
Expedition to Southwest Texas, during the Texas revolution against Mexico, can be traced
to the general council's usurpation of authority and the ignoring of the authority given
by the consultation to the commander of the land forces of the Texas army. It is a
regrettable fact in the history of the Texas revolution that Johnson and Grant ignored
General Houston, the commander of all the Texas forces, when they organized their
expeditions to march against Matamoras. When the breach occurred between Governor Smith
and the general council, which was functioning without a quorum, these men unfortunately
recognized Lieutenant-Governor Robinson as the chief executive, and took their orders from
him and the general council, thereby ignoring Governor Smith and General Houston.
Fannin was neither a bad nor a weak military chieftain, but he committed a military
blunder when he failed to recognize the supreme importance of co-ordinating all military
activities. The course of Robinson and the general council was responsible for the
disaster which overtook Fannin and his brave companions. In a letter addressed to Fannin
under date of February 6, 1836, Robinson advised him that "all previous orders given
by myself and General Houston are hereby revoked," thus leaving Fannin to act on his
own initiative. Not being in a position to know Santa Anna's plans to invade Texas, he was
placed at a disadvantage. And when Governor Smith advised him regarding them, he doubted
Smith's source of information, preferring to act on information emanating from Robinson.
He said this much in a letter to Robinson, January 28, 1836: "I received a letter
from 'Henry Smith' just before sailing for Aransas Bay, a copy of it ordered made and have
forwarded to you. You will see from the back that he reports an express from Bexar, saying
2,500 Mexicans were advancing to retake that post. I suspect the cause of that rumor, and
will be governed by such orders emanating from such persons as may be above
suspicion."

When the convention which met at Old Washington, March 1, 1836,
recognized Governor Smith as the executive head of the provisional government, and
re-appointed Houston as commander of all the land forces of the Texas army, Fannin
recognized Houston's authority. But the mischief had been done. Disaster had overtaken
both Johnson and Grant, the latter slaughtered, and most of their brave men put to the
sword, and Fannin was menaced by overwhelming numbers of the enemy. As a result of these
disasters it taxed the ingenuity of Houston to restore confidence and bring order out of
chaos. Both Johnson and Grant had rendered valiant service at San Antonio, when the Texans
wrested that stronghold from the Mexicans under General Cos. It was but natural then for
the council to listen to these men when they applied for authority to organize a force for
the invasion of Matamoras. The unpardonable sin the council committed, however, was the
granting of their request without referring the whole matter to General Houston who had
been placed in charge of the Texas land forces by the consultation which gave existence to
the council. This action of the council was not only humiliating to General Houston, but
it demoralized the whole military plans for the defense of the struggling embryo Republic.
sdct

The organic law under which the provisional government was operating
declared that the Governor and General Council have power to organize, reduce or increase
the regular forces, but it delegated no power to create any agents to supersede the
commander-in-chief. It provided further that "the regular army of Texas shall consist
of one Major-General, who shall be Commander-in-Chief of all forces called into public
service during the war." Consequently, all troops in service, or to be placed in
service, were placed by the organic law under the command of the commander-in-chief. The
council had no authority to create any agency or agencies that could assume command of
troops. The organic law, too, gave the power to the commander-in-chief, the discretion to
accept or reject the services of volunteers for such term as "he shall think the
defense of the country and the good of the service require." The law which was to
govern the organization of the army gave certain powers to the governor and the
commander-in-chief and they could not be abridged or set aside by the council. This,
however, the council attempted to do. After the council had trampled under foot the
organic law governing the organization of the army, both Fannin and Johnson issued
proclamations assembling volunteers to rendezvous at certain points in West Texas. This
was a violation of the organic law as the council had no authority to appoint agencies
with powers superior to those given the commander-in-chief.

During the transpiring of the events recorded above, it was no secret
that Santa Anna was organizing a strong force to invade Texas and it was no secret that
the commander-in-chief would need every able-bodied man, in the service, to successfully,
combat Santa Anna's horde, when it reached the Texas border. History and the events
closely following these unauthorized expeditions record it a bungling mistake. Colonel
Johnson assigns as his reason for writing the council at San Felipe to secure its
authority to organize a force to fall upon Matamoras, was that he desired to transfer
"the war into the enemy's country, as well as to give employment to the volunteer
troops." He overlooked, or ignored the fact, however, that General Houston was the
commander-in-chief of all the Texas land forces, and that he should have been consulted
regarding a move of such a brave character. Colonel Grant was authorized to raise a
force and march to Refugio where he was to join Colonel Johnson. He, however, did not
devote his energies to the securing of new volunteers, but induced a large number of
troops stationed at San Antonio to join him.

The effect of this action on the part of Grant was complained of by the
commander at San Antonio, Lieutenant J. C. Neill, in a letter to the governor and council,
January 6, 1836, saying:

We have 104 men and two distinct fortresses to garrison. You doubtless
have learned that we have no provisions or clothing since Johnson and Grant left * * *.
The clothing sent here by the aid and patriotic exertions of the honorable council was
taken from us by the arbitrary measures of Johnson and Grant-taken from men who endured
all the hardships of winter and who were not even sufficiently clad for summer, many of
them having but one blanket and one shirt, and what was intended for them given to men
some of whom had not been in the army more than four days and many not exceeding a week.
If a divide had been made of them, the most needy of my men could have been made
comfortable by the stocks of clothing and provisions taken from them. About 200 men who
volunteered to garrison this town for four months left my command, contrary to my orders,
and thereby violated the policy of their enlistment."

This action was a sad commentary on the loyal military acumen of
Johnson and Grant, and a reflection on the patriotism of the members of the council who
connived with these military chieftains to deprive a necessary post of equipment and also
of men under military obligations to garrison the forts at Bexar. It illustrates to what
extremes men devoid of regard for military discipline will go when endeavoring to carry
out a scheme their conscience was bound to have told them was contrary to public policy.
Johnson and Grant finally reached San Patricio with their force. Here they remained for
some time, in idleness, with the exception of reconnoitering the country in search of
horses needed by Fannin. San Patricio was Johnson and Grant's Waterloo, and the gallant
men they induced to desert from Neill's command at San Antonio, and those who joined them
enroute to San Patricio, were made the victims of Mexican hate. Accepting Colonel
Johnson's account of the catastrophe which followed, we are led to conclude that it was
one of the saddest events of the revolution. sdct

It has been stated by Colonel Johnson that he and Grant crossed the
Nueces and advanced to the Rio Colorado, for the purpose of securing horses to mount a
cavalry force. On their return march to San Patricio, Grant learned of a number of horses
and mules below the road they were traveling, and suggested to Colonel Johnson the
propriety of securing them. Col. Johnson tells us that he did not at first approve the
idea; but as Major Morris seconded Colonel Grant's suggestion, it was agreed that one-half
of the force, some seventy men, should secure the horses while Colonel Johnson and the
other part of the force would return to San Patricio and await Grant and Morris. On
the night of the second day, Johnson's force was surprised by an attack of Urrea's troops.

After a short struggle all were put to the sword except Colonel Johnson
and three others occupying the quarters with him, David J. Toler, John H. Love and a Mr.
Miller. Just how Colonel Johnson was able to escape is told by him in this language:

"The house was soon surrounded and an order was given to open the
door. There being no light in the house, the Mexican ordered a light to be made. Toler,
who spoke the Castilian language, kept the officer in conversation while he pretended to
be complying with the order. While thus engaged, fortunately for the inmates of the house,
fire was opened on the street in front. This drew those in the rear of the house to the
front. Apprised of this, Colonel Johnson gave the order to open the rear door and to pass
out and escape if we could. The order was obeyed, and the party escaped to Goliad. A short
time after the slaughter of the men with Johnson, Grant and his command, were attacked
near Agua Dulce, twenty-five miles from San Patricio, and after a desperate resistance
they were all killed except three, as follows: R. R. Brown, who was made a prisoner;
Placido Benevidas and a man by the name of Skurlock. Brown was carried to Matamoras, but
later escaped.

In 1858, Mr. Brown published an
exhaustive account of the slaughter of Grant's command. Upon his account of this
unfortunate affair we must depend for accuracy. He gave a graphic account of the movements
of Grant's men; of their capturing horses. He said that Grant and his men reached the Agua
Dulce in high spirits. They made an early start from that place after camping for the
night.

"Colonel Grant, Placido and Benevidas and myself," he said,
"were riding about a half-mile ahead of the rest of the company. As we were passing
between two large clusters of timber, suddenly, there came out from each of these mottes
several hundred Mexican dragoons, who quickly closed in, surrounding both the horses and
our party. Grant, Placido and myself might have made our escape * * * but our first
impulse being to relieve our party. We returned to them without reflecting upon the
improbability of doing any good against so large a number, for there were at least one
thousand dragoons under the immediate charge of General Urrea himself. We then at once
understood that Urrea had come in on the main road some distance below, or to the south of
us, that he had been to San Patricio and had probably slaughtered Colonel Johnson and his
party. Placido wished to return with us, but Grant persuaded him to start forthwith to
Goliad and give Fannin information of Urrea's arrival. As Grant and myself approached to
join our party the dragoons opened their line and we passed in. We at once saw that some
of our party had already been killed, and we decided to sell our lives as dearly as
possible. My horse was quickly killed with a lance, but Grant told me to mount Major
Morris' horse, as Morris had just been killed. I did so. Just at that moment the horses
stampeded and broke the line of the dragoons and Grant and myself found ourselves the only
survivors of our party, following in the wake of the horses, the dragoons shooting after
us as we speeded along * * * . After we had run six or seven miles, they succeeded in
surrounding us, when, seeing no further chance of escape, we dismounted, determined to
make them pay dearly for our lives. As I reached the ground a Mexican lanced me in the arm
and Grant immediately shot him dead, when I seized the lance to defend myself. Just as he
shot the Mexican I saw Grant fall, pierced with several lances, and a moment later I found
myself fast in a lasso that bad been thrown over me, and by which I was dragged to the
ground. I could do no more. After Grant fell, I saw ten or a dozen officers go up and run
their swords through his body.

Mr. Brown, continuing his narrative, tells of his treatment and final
escape. In closing he said:

"I have given you the leading events of our disastrous expedition
under Colonel Grant, of which I was the only survivor except Placido Benevidas, who
carried the first news of our slaughter to Fannin."

Thus ended the Johnson-Grant expedition, an ill-fated adventure, led
and directed by men who failed to realize how hazardous it is in war to ignore the counsel
and advice of superior officers. The butchery of Johnson's brave companions, of Grant and
his followers, of Fannin and his command, of King and Ward-all resulted from the reckless
disorder of the few men of the general council who ignored the authority given the chief
executive and commander-in-chief of the Texas army by the organic law. sdct

McMullen-McGloin Account of the
Johnson-Grant ExpeditionFrom The Papers of Mirabeau Lamar No. 1658. Editor C.A. Gulick notes
that the paper is listed as "Anonymous," but suggested by handwriting analysis
to be a draft of John McMullen. Lamar's notes indicate the report is from McGloin, but no
documents by McGloin save his signature "Santiago McGloin" has been found for
comparison.

....In going out to give themselves up
they were shot or lanced.......all of whom were interred next day by Rev. T.J. Malloy in
the church yard......the Revd. Mr Malloy, who went Immediately to Gen Urrea to Know the
truth of it [order for execution], and on being told it was So he Protested against the
orders of St. Anna. Stating that it was barbarous Inhuman, that those Prisoners he knew to
be as true and as loyal to the Country as he San Anna....

In January 1836 after the Surrender of Bejar by Gn Cos an expedition
was Got up to go to matamoros, which marched from the above Place by way of Goliad on
there coming there Capt. P. Dimitt. then commanding had the flag of Independence hoisted
on the walls of Goliad, which was ordered to be taken down by [Cols] Johnson & Grant
stating, that the ware federalists and would Stand to the Constitution of 1824, the then
marched to the Mission where the expected to meet with Col Fannin which had Started from
Velasco with vol[unteers] and provisions, and was to land at the Copano to Join Col.
Johnson & Grant there was at this time Say five hundred men at the Mission all willing
to go to Matamoros and only waiting the arrival of Col. Fanning [whose forces had not]
come. In the Interim Genl. S. Houston Got to Mission and advised them not to go on the
Said expedition as it would be ruinous to the cause of Texas through which means some
stoped Johnson & Grant with a company of sixty men with three Pieces of Brass cannon
Marched to San Patricio with a view as the then Stated to stop untill Col Fanning would
arrive and then Proceed to matamoros during there stay in Said Place San Patricio.
Information was brought that Commadt Rodrigues wbich formerly comd. at Lipantitlan was
encamped Some twenty miles from there with about twenty men which he had to watch their
movements.

Col Grant Prepared and started with twenty five men to Surprise him
taking with him the Person who Gave the information which was one of Rodrigues own men
the[y] got to the place at night which was very late and found all fast
a sleep, on calling to them to Surrender or their lives would be taken if resist the all
answered.... [mutilated] the[y] Collected all their horses and marched them to [San]
Patricio where the[y] treated all well and took the Comdt to their own quarters in the
Course of three days the[y] all made their escape no Guard being Placed over them. Col.
Grant and Johnson prepared then to go to Matamoros from Information the[y] rec. from them
that if they would go the would get a great majority to join them, and that ther[e] was
two hundred men ready in wait for them out in the Country under the command of Capt.
Canales [at] Comargo; and by going to that place the would get all the people of the towns
on the rio Grande to Join them Grant imediately Proposed to go on but through the
interfarence of his friends who stated to him and Col. Johnson Major Morris [another
of]ficer that if the went the need never look [to return tha]t it was only a plan of the
enemy to get them [there and] to destroy them and that at the same time the [were] placing
to much confidence in mexicans which [were acting as spies. that it would be better for
them [to return] to the main army or to remain where the[y] ware the[y] then preposed
going out to some ranches on the Rio Grande to obtain horses for the army, on the day
Previous to there doing So Capt. Cooke with a Company Come after the
cavalry by orders of Col. Fanning which got to the Mission, and to take them to Goliad
which was done. Cols. Johnson & Grant proceeded and on crossing the Rio Nueces, there
come an other Spie of the enemys to them Stating as heretofore that the Could with Safety
take Matamoros the proceeded untill the Got to a ranch Called Santa rosa, where the got
about one hundred good horses where the company devided. sdct

Col. Johnson with one half returned with the horses to San Patricio,
and Grant with the other Part went up the Country to where he understood there was more
horses. Col. John. after his return Sent the horses out to a ranch some few miles from
town under the care of Some Volunteers and Mexicans the rest was stationed in three
different houses, [Capt. Thos. K Pearson with Eight men was lodged on the Public Square
and at about Eighty yards from him the other five [mutilated] hundred yards from him,
Several mexicans come in during the day, but all giving the Same information that there
was no fear of an enemy Coming. When on the morning of the third day 4 A. M. all laid down
to Sleep little thinking it would be The last for Some when on the morning of the third
Night at 4 A. M. the place was Surrounded by about four 450 cavalry. Col. Johnson on being
asked to Surrender by the enemy which was at the front of his Place was answered from
within by Mr Daniel Toler a Partner of Col. Grants who came a few days before from the
Interior of Mexico that he would Surrender, but at the Same time opened the back of his
tent and Got to Mission of Refugio next day by 12 AM without hat, Shoe or Coat. (Col.
Johnson, D. Toler Love and Miller) Capt ..[mutilated] when being asked to give
himself up he answered [mutilated] commenced to fire encourageing his men to
do .[mutilated] did the[y] Killed a Mexican Col. and two more wounded four [men] died
after.

Some of the Texians seeing from within that they was going to set fire
to the house called to Capt . . . [mutilated] to Surrender to which he answered no that he
would . . . [mutilated] way, but the men Called Surrender; and in going out to give
themselves up the[y] ware Shot or lanced, among them Capt. Thos. K.
Pearson Dr. J. Hart Benjamin Dale
Liet. Cooney of New York, all which ware Intered next day by the Revd. T. J. Malloy in the
Church yard of the Same Place, the other party Surrendered and was Saved made Prisoners of
Genl Urrea who commanded Sent out his Spies after Col. Grant who was between them and the
Rio Grande when on the third [day] Inteligence was brought that Grant was to be in next
day, orders was Imedately to march and meet him in the Plains, there was also two Spies
Sent him to tell him that Col. Johnson and his Party was well and expecting him Grant
momently which was done, then did 400 horsemen go against 25 Col Grant being assured by
those Spies that all was Peace he commenced his journey in the morning to Join the others,
but what must be his surprise when he got himself enclosed in by Such Superior forces
being there was no way to escape he told the men [to hold their] Ground and fight untilled
killed, the enemy not giving [them] time to loock by rushing on to them Seperated them in
a [mutilated] the all tooke to run but the enemy in coming up to them Speared or
lanced them off their horses, Shewing no quarters striping them naked before yet dead.
Col. Grant ran his horse 7 miles before he was taken on the Lieutenant who killed coming
close to him he Grant fired one of his Pistoles and Pared the leafe of his hat, the Second
he fired without effect, when the other came up and lanced him through the back, on there
return the[y] Sent Spies to Goliad to try and Seperate them, the person Sent was a Capt.
Called the commander who it was stated rendered Col. Johnson Some great assistance, in
taking Bejar, and at this time was loocked on by all Texians as a true and Sincer friend,
on getting to Goliad he Stated to Col. Fanning that he had a very narrow escape from his
Country men and that the ware only about 60 in number, on hearing of So few only Several
volunteered to go on and attack but was Prevented by Some misunderstanding among the
Party, on the fifth day after the taking of San Patricio orders came from San Anna To have
the Prisoners shot and .[mutilated] that Place, which information was communicated
by Some Person to the Revd. Mr Malloy, who went Immediately
to Gen Urrea to Know the truth of it, and on being told it was So he Protested against the
orders of St. Anna. Stating that it was barbarous Inhuman, that those Prisoners he knew to
be as true and as loyal to the Country as he San Anna, through which means Gnl. Urrea Sent
them to matamoros nothwithstanding there did three different official communications come
to that effect, after remaining in San Patricio Some twelve days some of their spies
returned from the Mission bringing, intelligence that a Party of the Texians was about
going to the Mission of Refugio after Some family that was there, orders was Given to
march which was done, with Promptness, on Getting to the mission, the[y] attacked a Party
of thirty men under [Capt.] King who had Crossed the river and went down to Some [place]
where the day Previous the[y] was repulsed by Some [Mexicans] and Indians King on finding
himself cut off from the company of Col. Capt Ward, he Got into some timber which was
close at hand and there mantained his possesion with his 30 men against 110 of whome he
killed 7, or 8, during this time Gnl. Urrea with the mean army attacked Ward who got
Possession of the Church by firing Cannon trying to throw the walls at the Same time
trying with the Infantry to force their way in but was repulsed every time with heavy
loss, it was stated by the Mexicans themselves that their loss was not less than 150
killed besides [those] wounded. Ward at night made his escape from the Mission on towards
the River San Antonio Kings Party at night tryed the Same but missed their way and found
the[y] ware only three miles from where they started in at night next morning, the[y] ware
taken by a Party of rancheros brought in and Shot next day except two one that Joined the
enemy the other was Saved throught his familys interfarence which consisted of five
..[mutilated] children and his Lady, also some Mexican women.

.....My horse was quickly
killed.....Grant told me to mount Maj. Morris' horse......just been killed.....dragoon
rushed upon me...lance set......shot him, holding my pistol almost against his
breast.........Grant [and I].......dismounted......Mexican lanced me in the arm, but
Grant....shot him dead......Grant fell, pierced with several lances......found
myself.....in a lasso.....dragged to the ground.... some ten or a dozen officers go up and
run their sword through [Grant's] body....well known to them, having lived a long time in
Mexico.......They had a bit of grudge against him.......I was.....taken out to be shot,
but was spared through the interposition of a priest and a Mexican lady, named
Alvarez.......

Editors Texas Almanac: In compliance with your request, I proceed to
give you the facts in relation to the expedition, under Colonel Johnson and Grant, which
set out from San Antonio in December, 1835; and I do this the more willingly because I
have seen many more statements in regard to that expedition. I arrived in San Antonio the
second day after the capitulation of Cos, in company with High and John H. Love, all of us
Georgians, having come through from Nacogdoches. The Texans who had aided in taking San
Antonio, had all left for their homes, and we found there United States volunteers
numbering, some four hundred and sixty, who were then proposing an expedition to take
Matamoras, and in three or four days after our arrival the expedition was fully organized,
and we joined it.

Col. Francis W. Johnson was elected to command, while Dr. James M.
Grant was elected Lieutenant-Colonel, and Capt. Robt. Morris, of the New Orleans Grays,
was elected Major; and, in his place, Capt. Wm. G. Cooke was elected to command the Grays.
Another company was commanded by Capt. Pearson, who had been connected with a theatre in
New Orleans, and another by Capt. Llewellyn. I do not remember the commanders of the other
companies. The whole number of men was about four hundred. The expedition soon set out for
Goliad, leaving Col. Neill in command of the Alamo with some sixty men. I believe Travis,
Crockett, and others had not yet arrived. Major Bonham, of South Carolina, proceeded with
us to Goliad, but returned to the Alamo, as he had received some appointment from Travis.
Having arrived at the Cibolo, we learned that a Convention had been called to meet at San
Felipe, and we elected two delegates to represent us---one of them a Mr. Conrad. Having
reached Goliad after a march of six or seven days, we there found Capt. Phillip Dimmit in
command of a company, and in a day or two after he raised the flag of independence---the
first, I believe, that was ever unfurled in Texas. There was not then probably a dozen in
our expedition in favor of that measure.

When we set out from San Antonio, we expected to join Col. Fannin, who,
we heard, had arrived in Matagorda Bay with about one thousand men. It was arranged to
join him at Copano, to which place he was to proceed by a steamer from Matagorda Bay.
Three or four days after our arrival at Goliad, Gen. Houston and Col. Hockley, with some
five or six others, came there, Gen. Houston then proclaiming himself strongly in favor of
the expedition to take Matamoras. After remaining in Goliad about a week, we proceeded to
the Mission of Refugio, in order to be nearer to Fannin on his arrival at Copano, and Gen.
Houston and his half a dozen companions followed us there. But after reaching that place
he made a strong speech against the proposed expedition to Matamoras and some of us then
attributed his change of opinion in regard to that measure to the fact that he found
Fannin would be chosen to command the expedition. However this may be, Houston succeeded
in detaching a large portion of the men who had joined us, so that we found but sixty-four
left who were willing to go. With this small number we proceeded to San Patricio, most of
the New Orleans Grays having left, and Captains Pearson and Llewellyn having only a part
of their companies. As there were not probably half a dozen of us who lived to return, I
will give the names of all I remember, namely: Colonels Johnson and Grant, Major Robert
Morris, Daniel J. Toler, Dr. Hoyt, of South Carolina, Dr. Hart, of New Orleans, John H.
Love, James M. Miller, nephew of Gov. Stephen Miller, of South Carolina, - Cass, of
Philadelphia, - Carpenter, of Tennessee, Francis, a Creole of Louisiana, Langanhein, a
German, Scurlock and - Jones. sdct

We received information from Fannin that he would be at Copano as soon
as possible, but had been unavoidably detained in Matagorda Bay; and he wished us to
collect together as many horses as possible to enable him to mount his men. For this
purpose, and in order to scout the country, we divided our men into two parties, one of
which remained in San Patricio under Colonel Johnson, while the other proceeded westward
in search of horses, etc., under Col. Grant. I went out with this party. Having reached
the Sal Colorado, about sixty miles from San Patricio, we fell in with some half a dozen
Mexicans guarding three or four hundred head of horses that had been sent out there to be
recruited for the service of Urrea's division of the invading army, then preparing to set
out. We ascertained that Rodrigues, their Captain, was encamped near by with a small
force, and we made the men guarding the horses (whom we took prisoners) guide us to the
camp of Rodrigues, which we reached by going in single file by a narrow pathway through a
dense thicket of chapparal, and finally found the encampment in a small open space
surrounded on all sides by this chapparal. The tents were enclosed around by brush thrown
up, and guarded by a sentinel. The sentinel, on seeing us, fired his scopet at me, as I
was in the lead, but missed me, and I then shot him. We jumped over the brush at once,
and, making for the tents, we took them all prisoners without firing another gun. This was
just at daybreak. I took Rodrigues myself, though he surrendered only after much
resistance. We then returned to San Patricio, with our prisoners, sixty-seven in all, and
several hundred horses. Colonels Johnson and Grant agreed to release the prisoners from
close confinement upon parole, Rodrigues pledging his honor that they would not leave; but
they all soon left regardless of their parole.

Our party started out on another expedition immediately, going north of
the road to Matamoras. On the second day out a Mexican fell in with us, pretending that he
wished to join us, and that he could bring with him a small Mexican company of mounted
men. We suspected him for a spy, and our suspicions were confirmed in the morning when we
found he had left during the night. Our guide had informed us that there was a party of
some fifty Mexicans a little ahead of us, with several hundred horses, and we, therefore,
made an early start, but when we came in sight of them, we found them moving off, and
driving their horses before them. We pursued them to the Rio Grande, where we overtook
them, and, as they were attempting to cross pel-mel, some of them were drowned. Having
taken a considerable number of their horses, we returned on our way back to San Patricio,
visiting the different ranches, getting all the horses we could, and sometimes buying them
at a dollar a head. We had reached the Agua Dulce, within some twenty miles of San
Patricio, and, in high spirits, we made an early start from that place, Col. Grant,
Placido Benavides and myself being about a half a mile ahead to lead the horses, and the
rest of the company following. We were passing between two large motts, when suddenly
there came out from each of those motts several hundred Mexican dragoons, who quickly
closed in, surrounding both the horses and our party. Grant, Placido and myself might then
have made our escape, as we were well mounted and some distance in advance; but our first
impulse being to relieve our party, we returned without reflecting upon the impossibility
of doing any good against so large a number, for there were at least one thousand dragoons
under the immediate command of Urrea himself. We then at once understood that Urrea had
come in on the main road some distance below, or to the south of us--that he had been to
San Patricio, and had probably slaughtered Johnson and his party. Placido wished to return
with us, but Grant persuaded him to start forthwith for Goliad, and give Fannin
information of Urrea's arrival. We had been absent from San Patricio some ten or twelve
days. As Grant and myself approached to join our party, the dragoons opened their line,
and we passed in. We at once saw that some of our party had already been killed, and we
decided to sell our lives as dearly as possible. My horse was quickly killed with a lance,
but Grant told me to mount Maj. Morris' horse, as Morris had just been killed. I did so,
but without seeing any object to be accomplished by it. Just at that moment the horses
took a stampede, and broke the lines of dragoons, and Grant and myself finding ourselves
the only survivors of our party, followed in the wake of the horses, the dragoons shooting
after us, and wounding our horses in several places, but not badly. As we were flying a
dragoon rushed upon me with his lance set, but I knocked it one side and shot him, holding
my pistol almost against his breast; and scarcely stopping, I fled with Grant, the
Mexicans following, and some of them occasionally coming up with us, and crying out to us
to surrender and our lives would be saved. But we knew better, and continued to fly, but
the number of those overtaking us became larger and larger, and after we had run six or
seven miles, they surrounded us, when, seeing no further chance of escape, we dismounted,
determined to make them pay dearly for our lives. As I reached the ground a Mexican lanced
me in the arm, but Grant immediately shot him dead, when I seized his lance to defend
myself. Just as he shot the Mexican I saw Grant fall, pierced with several lances, and a
moment after I found myself fast in a lasso that had been thrown over me, and by which I
was dragged to the ground. I could do no more, and only regretted that I had not shared
the fate of all the rest of my party.

After, Grant fell I saw some ten or a dozen officers go up and run
their sword through his body. He was well known to them, having lived a long time in
Mexico. They had a bit of grudge against him. I was then lashed upon a horse and taken to
the ground where the fight first commenced, where I saw most of our men lying dead. Among
others whom I recognized was one poor fellow named Carpenter, from Tennessee, who was
fatally wounded, but not quite dead. When it was discovered that he was alive, one of the
dragoons was ordered to finish him. He dismounted, and, while poor Carpenter was asking to
have his life spared, he struck him on the head with his escopeta, and thus ended his
existence. I was then taken to San Patricio, and there confined in a small hut for seven
or eight days, during which time I knew nothing of the fate of Col. Johnson's command. On
the second day of my confinement, I was approached by Gen. Urrea's interpreter, who
proposed to me that I should be released on condition that I would go with a flag of truce
to Col. Fannin, and propose to him that, if he would surrender, he and his men should be
sent safely back to the United States. The reason for making me this proposition was
doubtless the fact of their having found letters about me from Col. Fannin, whith whom I
had been on itimated terms, we both having come from the same section of the State of
Georgia. I refused to accede to this proposition, assigning as my reason that he
required me to state what was not true, that the Mexican forces under him were very large,
and such as would overpower him; but I certainly would not have been the bearer of any
proposition that would have been dishonorable to our army, or have prejudiced our cause.
Urrea then said, that I would have to be executed according to Santa Anna's orders. It was
probably my indifference and recklessness of life, under the circumstances, that saved my
life. I was then taken out to be shot, but was spared through the interposition of a priest and a Mexican lady, named
Alvarez. After having been kept in San Patricio some seven or eight days, I was taken
out of my place of confinement to be sent to Matamoras, when I was surprised to see some
five or six of the men belonging to Col. Johnson's command, brought out, at the same time,
for the same purpose. They had been confined in another place entirely unknown to me, and,
as I then learned, were the only men of Johnson's command that had not been killed, except
Johnson himself, John H. Love, James M. Miller and Daniel J. Toler, who made their escape
by a fortunate circumstance. An understanding had been had between the Mexicans and the
few inhabitants of the town, that on the night when the attack upon the town was to be
made, the citizens should have lights burning in their houses, by which means they would
be known and saved, while all the balance were to be slaughtered. It happened that on that
night Johnson and Toler were engaged in writing to a very late hour, and their light
therefore saved them and the other two who were with them, till they had notice of the
attack, and were thus enabled to make their escape. sdct

I was then marched, with the other prisoners, to Matamoras, being five
or six days on the road; and on our arrival we were imprisoned and kept several days
without food or drink. Soon after our arrival, we were informed that orders had been
received from Santa Anna for our execution; but General Fernandez, commanding at
Matamoras, to whom these orders had been sent, delayed the execution, for the purpose of
going through a mock trial. We were all taken out and questioned separately, taking near
two days with each of us. We were then formally condemned, and sentenced to be shot on the
6th of April, 1836. We had been in Matamoras from about the 1st of March. On the appointed
day of our execution, we were all taken out, weak and greatly emaciated from the painful
manner of our confinement and want of food. The sentence was read to us --- but we were
respited by the interposition of the priests and women who
had been influenced by our American friends residing in Matamoras. A large church had been
commenced, but was left unfinished for the want of funds. It was by the promise of the
money requisite to complete it, that the priests exerted their powerful influence in our
behalf, but the money was promised merely for a respite of nine days, during which time a
messenger was to be dispatched to the city of Mexico, to try and obtain a reprieve. The
messenger returned, having (much to our astonishment) obtained a commutation of the
sentence from death to perpetual confinement.

We were kept in close confinement from that time till the latter part
of December following, subject to every privation and half starved, and only taken out of
our close and filthy prison occasionally to sweep the streets, when we were always under a
strong guard. We were barefooted and nearly destitute of all clothing, and death was
preferable to such a condition of wretchedness. Finally myself and McNeely, of Louisiana,
having been advised that our friends had horses prepared for our flight, provided we could
once escape from our confinement, determined that we would use every exertion to get out,
or die in the attempt. During the year we had often asked for the privilege of sleeping in
the prison yard, which was enclosed by a wall fourteen feet high. It was not till the
latter part of December that McNeely and myself finally prevailed on the officers to grant
us this privilege for one night. The time was propitious, as it was dark and rainy. A
guard of twelve men alternated in watching over us. Near 12 o'clock, while we were
apparently asleep, I observed the guard with their cloaks, or blankets on their bayonets
over their heads, trying to protect themselves from the rain. We seized the opportunity,
and glided unperceived to the wall of the cuartel or enclosure. After exhausting our
ingenuity in devising means to reach the top of the wall, it was finallydecided
that McNeely, who was a tall man, should place himself against the wall close to a back
house, which was not quite so high; and having done so, I sprang from his shoulders so as
to reach the top, when he was able, by getting hold of my feet, to climb up by my side. We
then immediately jumped down the other side, but were discovered by the sentinel on the
wall, who gave the alarm, and only succeeded in making our escape by the darkness of the
night. After groping about the remainder of that night, without being able to find our
friends, we secreted ourselves during the following day, and the next night succeeded in
procuring horses and weapons, and then we proceeded up the Rio Grande to find a favorable
point for crossing, traveling in the night, and lying concealed in the daytime, till we
reached a crossing a little below Mier, early one morning, where, seeing a canoe on the
opposite bank, I swam over for it, and with it we both crossed, swimming our horses.

Before we had reached the opposite bank, we discovered a large number
of Mexicans riding up in pursuit of us, but fortunately we were unperceived by them, and
made good our landing on the opposite bank. Having again mounted our horses, we pursued
our way over the trackless prairie as well as we could, but often lost our course, and it
was not till after much exposure, and several narrow escapes, that we finally arrived
among our friends in Texas. We arrived at the Guadalupe, opposite Victoria, the latter
part of December the first of January, during a fall of sleet, when the river was in
overflow, called to the opposite bank for somebody to bring the boat over for us, but Col.
Clark L. Owen, who was then in command of a company at the place, suspected a decoy by the
enemy, and its was not till some time had passed that he finally came over for us.

I have thus given you all the leading events of our disastrous
expedition under Col. Grant, of which I was the only survivor, except Placido Benavides,
who carried the first news of our slaughter to Fannin. I have omitted many events and
details of suffering that would probably be interesting to many, but which would extend
this communication too much for your use. It may be proper to remark that Mr. McNeeley is
now a member of the legislature of Louisiana. The other prisoners who were with us were
finally released, by the influence of their friends, some four or five months after our
escape. sdct

Dr. Grant was a scholar, gentleman,
and soldier, and devoted to the best interests of Texas. Major
Morris....and....others....were actuated by the highest motives of
patriotism....left....homes to aid and assist....independence and liberty.....Why the,
historian should have singled out Johnson, Grant, Morris, and their followers as fit
subjects to brand with disgrace and infamy is beyond our ken........

The truth of history, as well as justice to many patriots, most of whom
sacrificed their lives in the war of Texas independence, makes it necessary to correct
certain portions of Kennedy's and Yoakum's history.

Kennedy says: "On the first of January, 200 of the volunteers
stationed at Bexar had marched for Goliad, on their way to San Patricio, under the command
of Colonel (Doctor) Grant. On the preceding day, a meeting of part of the garrison had
been held, at which resolutions were passed, approving of Lieutenant-Colonel Neill as
commandant, in the absence of Colonel Johnson and declaring it 'highly essential that the
existing army should remain in Bexar.' This declaration was in condemnation of the
movement against Matamoras, which stripped Bexar of two-thirds of its defenders, with the
greater portion of the winter supply of ammunition, clothing, and provisions."
To this, it is only necessary to say that there was no supply of clothing, and that
provisions were obtained from the surrounding country.

Again, he says: "All the Bexar volunteers under Grant, with the
exception of about fifty, left him, having heard that his object was plunder, and joined
the force at Goliad, while Grant himself, who was subsequently joined by some twenty men
under Johnson, proceeded on a forage for horses and cattle in the direction of
Matamoras." That a part of the force under Grant joined the troops under
General Houston at Goliad and Refugio, is true, but not for the reason stated; and, as to
Johnson and twenty men joining him, that is equally untrue. Johnson joined with but a
single individual, Adjutant Brister.

It is due the historian to say, that these errors arose from the want
of correct information, and not from any desire to do injustice to anyone.

We will notice the statement of Yoakum: "A difference between the
governor and council has already been intimated. The origin and progress of this
difference so painful and destructive in its consequences, require a special notice. Dr.
James Grant, it will be remembered, originated the project of an expedition to Matamoras.
His domicile was in Coahuila, where he had a splendid estate. He had never resided in
Texas; it was not his home. His feelings, his interests, and his efforts, were all in
favor of the old union of Coahuila and Texas. True, he was at the siege of San Antonio and
fought gallantly there, and was severely wounded on the first day, but he fought against
Cos, who had driven him from the legislative hall of Monclova, and not for the cause and
right of Texas. He therefore had a motive in carrying the war to Matamoras, and thence
into the interior of Mexico, that he might return to his princely domain at Parras. Among
the volunteers and adventurers at San Antonio he was incessantly painting in lively colors
the rich spoils of Tamaulipas, New Leon, Coahuila, and San Luis Potosi, the facility of
the descent, the cowardly nature of the inhabitants, and the charming beauties of the
valleys of the San Juan, the Sabinas, and the Santander."

That Dr. Grant resided, or, rather had resided, in Parras, Coahuila,
had an estate there, and was a member of the Congress of the state of Coahuila and Texas,
and was in favor of an expedition against Matamoras, is true; but, that he was actuated by
anything but pure patriotism in advocating the Matamoras expedition, we deny. Dr. Grant
was a scholar, gentleman, and soldier, and devoted to the best interests of Texas.
Major Morris, and most others engaged in the expedition, were actuated by the highest
motives of patriotism, and had left their homes to aid and assist a people struggling for
independence and liberty. That Johnson and Grant and their companions asked or
desired other or greater privileges than those authorized by law, is simply false.
The expedition, west of the Nueces, for horses and mules was not, as is insinuated, for
their own emolument and profit, but to supply a want in the service-a cavalry force. So
far from seizing and taking property by force, all was receipted for at a fair valuation
or paid for. Yet, Mr. Yoakum, in his history, insinuates, if he does not charge in direct
terms, that the parties thus engaged were guilty of offenses that, if true, would brand
them with eternal disgrace. Why the, historian should have singled out Johnson, Grant,
Morris, and their followers as fit subjects to brand with disgrace and infamy is beyond
our ken. So far as their motives and acts are concerned, they have been faithfully, if not
ably, stated, and may well abide impartial public opinion.

On our arrival at Goliad, from San Patricio, Colonel Johnson informed
Colonel Fannin of the advance of Urrea. Soon after, news was received of the defeat and
slaughter of Grant and command. We were informed by Colonel Fannin that Colonel Travis was
besieged, and had sent to him for aid, which he was not able to give for want of necessary
transportation. Before leaving Goliad, Johnson advised Fannin either to abandon
Goliad and destroy the fort or to strengthen it by the addition of new works, and collect
such supplies of provisions as he could procure, and await the advance of the enemy. He
decided, after consultation with his officers, to maintain his position. He was, also,
informed that due notice had been given the families at Refugio, and not to listen to any
appeal for assistance, as most of the Irish families were suspected of being unfriendly to
the Texans; that his safety and success in defending the place depended on his keeping his
force united. sdct